7-year-old's fight profile in courage

By Gail Stanton CORRESPONDENT

Sunday

Jul 15, 2012 at 7:00 AMJul 15, 2012 at 7:36 AM

When Jameson P. Laliberte starts school this fall he will not be writing the typical 'what I did on my summer vacation' essay that most kids write. Just one week after school let out in June, the 7-year-old kicked off his summer with surgery to remove his left kidney.

His right kidney was removed 16 months ago. He isnowon complete dialysis. “We tried to work off the remaining kidney, which was functioning at 25 percent, but the tumors were getting aggressively bigger,” explained his mom, Julie LaPrise.

Jameson's medical issues started early last year with a simple stomachache. Within days he was diagnosed with renal cell carcinoma, a rare form of kidney disease generally found in adults.

Statistics show that there have never been more then five child cases of RCC reported worldwide each year. Dr. Bryan Miller, the family doctor, confirmed that Jameson has the disease.

At the time it was also discovered that he is a carrier of tubular sclerosis, a genetic trait that can be tied to cancer, and that he had three aneurisms in his lower aorta.

His first surgery lasted nine hours and included removing his right kidney and repairing the aneurisms. Unfortunately, complications followed that left doctors unable to close the surgical site for several days and Jameson lost a section of his colon.

Jameson's dad, Winchendon resident Matthew A. Laliberte, remembers how stunned he was when everything first happened. “One day my 6-year-old boy was healthy, the next day, he was not.”

His son's illness has impacted his thinking greatly: “You expect things to happen when you're older maybe, but really, we're not untouchable, no matter how old you are.”

Jameson spent the year between the two surgeries undergoing chemotherapy and enduring procedures to prepare for the eventual second kidney removal.

To help the family with medical costs, friends held a benefit for Jameson last year that raised more than $8,000. The family was stunned by the outpouring of love and support from the community.

“It meant so much to us,” Ms. LaPrise said.

Although the family had hoped to put off the second surgery until their son was older, test results this spring showed that waiting was not a good option. The tumors in his remaining kidney were growing. “We wanted to take care of the problem now, before it became another emergency situation,” explained his mom.

Plans for the surgery revolved very much around timing. His parents wanted him to have the summer to recuperate and the chance to enjoy his birthday in July, but they didn't want to risk waiting an extra six weeks to hold his party.

“He wanted a water slide so we rented one and threw his party early, just a few days before his surgery,” Ms. LaPrise said.

It was a good move, because of the catheter now in place for his dialysis; Jameson can't get wet and would not be able to be in the water when he officially turns 8 in a few weeks.

Although his parents are no longer together, they are of one mind concerning their son and they will do whatever is necessary to help Jameson get through all that he is dealing with. Jameson lives with his mom, but his father is a daily part of his life. “He sees him all the time,” his mom said.

Ms. LaPrise is out of work right now as she cares for Jameson and will be facing future time off work if she is able to donate a kidney to him next year, which she hopes to do. When people ask how she is managing being on an unpaid leave of absence, she tells them that you do what you have to do. “I would live out of a cardboard box if I had to, to take care of his needs. Any parent would,” she said.

For now, life for Jameson revolves around adhering to restrictions and trips to the hospital. He undergoes dialysis three times a week. “Some days he does OK, and some days he vomits all afternoon; it's not easy,” said his mom.

The procedure requires him to be quiet for several hours, not an easy task for a little boy.

The next year will be a crucial one, as he continues to undergo chemotherapy and his body attempts to heal; all in preparation for the upcoming kidney transplant surgery. Ms. LaPrise is currently undergoing evaluations as a possible donor candidate. If she does not qualify, she says that others have offered to become donors if they qualify.

As for how he is handling all that is going on, Jameson is doing well, according to his family.

“He knows a lot, he asks questions and we answer him,” said his mom. “And he knows that if he doesn't do what he needs to, he will be spending the next year in the hospital.”

His father is amazed at how well his son is doing. “He's always got a smile on his face, and he tries to live a normal life,” Mr. Laliberte said. “I think since all this happened, he only has mentioned twice that he wishes he wasn't sick.”

Following a story in the Telegram and Gazette last year, the family received numerous letters and donations of support. They say that the people who contacted them touched them deeply.

“It meant so much to hear from people. They told us that they were praying for Jameson and how much they cared. That was very helpful to us to know that, with all that was going on,” she said.

Anyone interested in reaching out to the family can do so by contacting Ms. LaPrise through her email address at julie01475@yahoo.com.

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